MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1933, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

SEQUEL TO DOUBLE D'BOWNING. CASE BEGINS AT WELLINGTON. (Per Presi Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, September 21. George Edward James, an engine driver, aged 59, -who was rescued from drowning at Thorn-don on June 30, the day oil which Mrs Cecilia Smith and her seven-year-old son were found dead •imde. r tragic circumstances, appeared before Mr Page, S. ; M. to-dav, charged with murdering Mrs Smith. The hearing of evidence will probably take two days.

Accused, who is very deaf, was allowed to leave the dock and sit close to the witness box.

Senior-Sergeant DiUnie produced a number of photographs of a flat at Ohi-ro Road, referred t, O as James’ fl.it, and of Mrs Smith and her son. .(Gong the exhibit's was a photo of a bloodstain. qn a piece of newspaper, and ,lantern slide .showing » rubber heel, •which, 'it was ' dialed, coincided with the bloodstain.

Plans of the flat showing bloodstains, •wore produced by Philip Rex Rose, and plans of the .district by ITarold -William Falkner, chief surveyor to the Wellington City Council, who gave details of the distances by various routes from the flat to Die fisherman’s hut on the beach at Shelly Bay read, and from there to Shed 45-at '.I horn don. Ellen Jane McKentie, who had authority' .to..'.let %.fiat,.,.said, Grit accused called .pi) her op.,The. evening of June 6. She. understood him to say that he had got married on the Monday, and wanted his wife to see the flat. The rent was 15 s 6cl a week. Accused -moved in the following d 4| y and paid a week in advance. On June ,8 she met » woman going on the ‘stairs with a little boy. She addressed her ,a s Mi’s James, and asked how she liked the flat. The woman said that she was not Mrs James, and witness had sine® Jearnod that she was Mrs Smith. About a. week late,, witness .saw the woman again. The woman said she was not Mrs James, hut was going-to get nnrried on the Monday. She sa : d bluri James had a lot of worry, and had a court case coming‘.on;, and they were not going to get -married until it waS' fixed. ".